Web Desk

<em style='box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-family: Roboto, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;' id="isPasted">This live blog follows updates for Day 8 of the US-Israel war on Iran<hr> <ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li>Britain &#39;ready to support&#39; Saudi defense</li><li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">UN Ghanaian peacekeepers wounded after position hit in south Lebanon</li><li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Qatar&#39;s energy minister warns war will force the Gulf to halt energy exports within weeks</li><li>Total of 67 Kuwait army personnel injured in Mideast war: Statement</li><li>UN urges Middle East warring parties to &#39;give peace a chance&#39;</li></ul> <hr>Israel army says Iran using cluster munitionsPublished March 7, 2026 | 02:00 GMT Israel said that Iran had launched cluster bombs &quot;multiple times&quot; since the start of the war that began with a US-Israeli attack on the Islamic republic over the weekend. The Iranians &quot;are using cluster munitions&quot;, Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told a news briefing, without providing details on when or where those munitions were allegedly launched. &quot;They&#39;ve used it multiple times, which is a war crime when it&#39;s directed towards civilians, and we&#39;re tracking that situation,&quot; Shoshani said. Saudi Arabia says intercepted ballistic missile fired at air basePublished March 7, 2026 | 00:20 GMT<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="isPasted">Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base southeast of the capital, Riyadh, as Iran pressed attacks across the Gulf.<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">&quot;A ballistic missile launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base was intercepted and destroyed,&quot; the Saudi defense ministry posted on X.

Middle East

Israel alleges Iran uses cluster munitions multiple times during ongoing war, warning such attacks on civilian areas could constitute war crimes

Israel army says Iran using cluster munitions

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday his government was considering lifting sanctions on more Russian oil, a day after it temporarily authorized India to buy from Moscow as global oil prices surged. The US-Israel war on Iran and Tehran&#39;s retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region have upended the world&#39;s energy and transport sectors, virtually halting activity in the Strait of Hormuz. Crude soared 8.5 percent on Friday and was up nearly 30 percent for the week after President Donald Trump said only the &quot;unconditional surrender&quot; of Iran would end the Middle East war.&quot;We may unsanction other Russian oil,&quot; Bessent told Fox Business on Friday. &quot;There are hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned crude on the water. And in essence, by unsanctioning them, Treasury can create a supply.&quot; Washington has insisted that the new measures are not aimed at easing restrictions on Moscow, imposed over its conduct in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, but instead only affect supplies already in transit. &quot;We&#39;re going to keep a cadence of announcing measures to bring relief to the market during this conflict,&quot; said Bessent, with high oil prices a pain point both domestically and for international markets. Kremlin economic adviser Kirill Dmitriev said he was discussing the issue with the United States, posting on X that: &quot;Western sanctions have proven detrimental to the world economy.&quot; On Thursday, the US government temporarily eased economic sanctions to allow Russian oil currently stranded at sea to be sold to India. It said the transactions, including from vessels blocked by various sanctions regimes, are authorized through the end of the day on April 3, 2026.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the government is considering lifting sanctions on more Russian oil, a day after it temporarily authorized India to buy from Moscow as global oil prices surged

US Treasury secretary hints at lifting more Russian oil sanctions

WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that the United States is &quot;not concerned&quot; about reports that Russia is providing intelligence to Iran on US troop positions and movements. While declining to confirm the reports, Hegseth, in an interview with CBS&#39;s &quot;60 Minutes,&quot; said: &quot;We&#39;re tracking everything.&quot; &quot;Our commanders are aware of everything,&quot; he said. &quot;We have the best intelligence in the world. We&#39;re aware of who&#39;s talking to who.&quot; &quot;We&#39;re not concerned about that,&quot; the defense secretary said. &quot;We mitigate it as we need to.&quot; Earlier Friday, the White House also downplayed a report that Russia is providing Iran with targeting information about US forces in the Middle East. &quot;It clearly is not making a difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them,&quot; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. &quot;We are achieving the military objectives of this operation and that is going to continue,&quot; Leavitt said. The Washington Post, citing officials familiar with the intelligence, said Russia has provided Iran with the locations of US military assets, including ships and aircraft. Six US service members were killed in a drone attack on a US base in Kuwait on Sunday and the CIA station in Riyadh has also been hit. The Post said China did not appear to be aiding Iran&#39;s defenses. Russia and China have longstanding diplomatic and trade ties with Iran, while Russia has close military links to the country. Both Moscow and Beijing have criticized the US-Israeli war against Iran.

US says it is unconcerned over reports Russia sharing intelligence with Iran on American troop positions, asserting operations and military objectives continue

US 'not concerned' by reports Russia aiding Iran's targeting

BEIRUT: Three UN peacekeepers were wounded when their base in southern Lebanon was hit on Friday, the UN force and the Ghanaian military said, with Lebanon&#39;s president accusing Israel of targeting them. The attack came as Israel and Iran&#39;s Lebanese proxy Hezbollah exchanged fire after the Middle East war expanded into the country on Monday. &quot;Amidst heavy firing this evening, three peacekeepers were injured inside their base in... Qawzah&quot; in southern Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said in a statement. &quot;The most severely injured has been transferred to a hospital in Beirut for treatment.&quot; Ghana&#39;s military said that its UNIFIL battalion headquarters came under &quot;two missile attacks,&quot; adding that &quot;two soldiers are critically injured, while one other has been traumatized.&quot;&quot;The officers&#39; mess facility also got hit and has been burnt down completely.&quot; Neither UNIFIL nor the Ghanaian army specified the source of the attack, but the international force said it will investigate the circumstances of the incident. &quot;It is unacceptable that peacekeepers performing (UN) Security Council-mandated tasks are targeted,&quot; it added. In a statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned &quot;Israeli attacks on Lebanon,&quot; adding that they had &quot;even reached the point of a direct assault on UNIFIL.&quot; French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the &quot;unacceptable attack&quot; on UNIFIL after speaking with his Lebanese and Syrian counterparts. &quot;France is working with its partners to prevent the conflict from spreading further in the region,&quot; Macron said on X, highlighting the &quot;key stabilising role&quot; played by the UN force. In a post on X, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said that she was &quot;dismayed that our colleagues have suffered injuries and wishing them a full recovery&quot;. UNIFIL has acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon for decades and was assisting the Lebanese army while it was dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure near the Israeli border after the last war opposing the Iran-backed group and Israel in 2024. It plans to withdraw all troops from Lebanon by mid-2027.&nbsp;

Three UN peacekeepers were wounded when their base in southern Lebanon was hit on Friday, the UN force and the Ghanaian military said, with Lebanon's president accusing Israel of targeting them

UN peacekeepers from Ghana wounded in south Lebanon attack

Muhammad Ibrahim

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is pursuing alternative oil supply routes through Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Red Sea port of Yanbu as the widening Middle East conflict disrupts global energy flows and pushes international crude prices sharply higher.&nbsp;Officials say the move is part of Islamabad&rsquo;s effort to safeguard energy security after shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil trade, was effectively halted amid escalating hostilities linked to the US&ndash;Israel war with Iran.&nbsp;The disruption has sent shockwaves through global markets.&nbsp;&nbsp;Amid surging global crude prices, Pakistan raised petrol and diesel rates by Rs55 ($0.20) per liter this week, officials said. Authorities stressed the hike was unavoidable given disrupted energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz and rising international costs.&nbsp;International crude benchmarks surged this week, with Brent crude rising close to $93 a barrel and US crude climbing above $91, as traders scrambled to secure alternative supplies while shipments from the Gulf remain constrained.&nbsp;Nearly one-fifth of the world&rsquo;s oil supply normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz each day, making the closure one of the most significant threats to global energy flows in years.&nbsp;Against this backdrop, Pakistani officials say rising international prices left the government with little room to absorb the shock domestically.&nbsp;Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the government had already taken precautionary steps to preserve fuel availability while monitoring developments in international markets.&nbsp;&ldquo;Over the past few weeks, we have preserved petroleum reserves and maintained supply according to our available stocks,&rdquo; Malik said during a joint press conference in Islamabad.&nbsp;&ldquo;There is no doubt that we are going through extraordinary circumstances today,&rdquo; he added, noting that global fuel prices had increased sharply due to the conflict.&nbsp;Malik confirmed that Pakistan had approached Saudi authorities to explore the possibility of routing oil shipments through the Red Sea port of Yanbu in order to bypass disruptions in the Gulf.&nbsp;According to the minister, Saudi officials assured Pakistan that supplies could be facilitated through the port if required.&nbsp;Officials say such arrangements could provide Pakistan with an alternative energy corridor should instability continue to affect traditional maritime routes.&nbsp;Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said PM Shehbaz Sharif had personally reviewed the situation earlier in the day as the government weighed possible responses.&nbsp;&ldquo;The prime minister himself chaired a meeting today in which the situation was reviewed,&rdquo; Dar said.&nbsp;He said Islamabad was also maintaining diplomatic contact with foreign counterparts amid rising regional tensions.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have contacted the foreign ministers of other countries,&rdquo; Dar said, adding that Pakistan was working with partners to encourage de-escalation.&nbsp;&ldquo;We will have to see how long it takes to reduce these tensions,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the government was also examining the broader economic implications of the crisis, including its potential impact on Pakistan&rsquo;s imports and exports.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are also reviewing what impact the increase in prices will have on imports and exports,&rdquo; Aurangzeb said.&nbsp;He reassured the public that the country currently holds sufficient petroleum reserves and urged citizens not to panic as authorities formulate their response to the evolving situation.&nbsp;Aurangzeb added that PM Sharif had directed federal authorities to consult with provincial governments to ensure coordinated measures.&nbsp;Officials say Pakistan&rsquo;s strategy now focuses on securing alternative supply routes, protecting domestic fuel reserves and maintaining diplomatic engagement as the Middle East conflict reshapes global energy markets and threatens prolonged volatility in oil prices.

Business

Islamabad raises fuel prices amid global crude surge, citing disrupted Strait of Hormuz supplies. Authorities emphasize strategic alternative routes through Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port to secure energy, while monitoring economic impacts on imports, exports, and domestic stability

Pakistan seeks Red Sea oil route as Gulf crisis disrupts supply

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday to discuss the rapidly evolving security situation in the Middle East, as Islamabad continues diplomatic engagement with regional partners. In a statement posted on X, Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office said the two leaders exchanged views on recent developments and agreed to remain in contact as the situation unfolds. &ldquo;Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke this evening with the Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said. The call reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s effort to maintain open diplomatic channels with Tehran at a time of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/usisrael-war-on-iran-day-7" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">heightened uncertainty across the Middle East</a>, where ongoing military activity and retaliatory threats have raised fears of wider instability. Islamabad has positioned dialogue as central to its response, urging restraint while coordinating with regional governments affected by the rapidly shifting security environment. During the conversation, Dar conveyed Islamabad&rsquo;s concerns about the rising tensions across the region. &ldquo;The DPM/FM expressed concern over the evolving regional situation. The two agreed to remain in touch on the developments,&rdquo; the statement added. The situation has also begun to spill over into Pakistan&rsquo;s border regions. Authorities in Balochistan say Pakistani nationals have started returning through the Taftan crossing from neighboring Iran as uncertainty grows. Families, traders and laborers arriving at the remote desert border post have described long journeys back home as tensions escalate across the region. Local officials say the government is monitoring the movement of returning citizens and assessing the potential need for further logistical support should the security situation deteriorate. Pakistan shares a long border with Iran and maintains deep economic and social ties with the region. Officials say Islamabad will continue diplomatic outreach while closely monitoring the safety of Pakistani nationals abroad as the regional situation continues to evolve.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar speaks with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, expressing concern over escalating regional tensions and agreeing to stay in close contact, as Islamabad continues diplomatic engagement and monitors Pakistanis returning home from Iran.

Pakistan urges restraint as FM Dar speaks with Iranian foreign minister

WASHINGTON: Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Friday said the US navy was preparing to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz &quot;as soon as it&#39;s reasonable to do it,&quot; as traffic through the key trade route remains choked due to the US-Israel war on Iran.&nbsp;&quot;As soon as it&#39;s reasonable to do it, we&#39;ll escort ships through the straits and get the energy moving again,&quot; he told US broadcaster Fox News&#39;s &quot;Fox and Friends&quot; show.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump had said on Tuesday that the US Navy would &quot;begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible&quot; in a bid to avoid disruption of global oil supplies.

Asia

US plans to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz soon, after disruptions caused by the Israel–Iran conflict, with US president Donald Trump supporting tanker protection to maintain global oil supplies.

US says to escort ships in Strait of Hormuz 'soon'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s retaliatory military campaign against Afghan Taliban positions has entered its eighth day, with Islamabad saying its forces have inflicted significant battlefield losses under Operation Ghazab lil Haq following repeated cross-border attacks. Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said at least 527 Afghan Taliban combatants and affiliated terrorists have been killed and more than 755 injured since the operation began.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 471px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2029879575329517624&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3156f2cf9157da1499123d1f99571ec10799d96d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Tarar said Pakistani forces had carried out sustained strikes on terrorist positions across Afghanistan as part of a coordinated military response. According to the latest operational update, 237 Taliban check posts have been destroyed, while 38 additional posts were captured and subsequently demolished by Pakistani forces. Tarar added that 205 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery guns belonging to Afghan Taliban forces were destroyed during the course of the operation. He also said 62 locations across Afghanistan were effectively targeted through air operations, describing the strikes as part of Pakistan&rsquo;s effort to dismantle infrastructure used to launch attacks across the border. Earlier, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry described the operation as a &ldquo;measured and proportionate response&rdquo; to what Pakistan says were unprovoked attacks originating from Afghan territory. Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry has also defended the military action. During a weekly press briefing last week, spokesperson Tahir Andrabi characterized the engagement as an &ldquo;effective and forceful response&rdquo; aimed at safeguarding Pakistan&rsquo;s territorial integrity. The fighting along the Afghanistan&ndash;Pakistan border has drawn international attention as hostilities intensify across the frontier region. Russia&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry also expressed concern over the escalation. In a statement on March 4, spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow was &ldquo;concerned about the ongoing fighting along the Afghan-Pakistani border.&rdquo; She called on both countries &ldquo;to resolve their differences through dialogue based on mutual respect.&rdquo; Pakistani officials, however, maintain that the objective of Operation Ghazab lil Haq remains the neutralization of terrorist threats emanating from across the border and the protection of Pakistan&rsquo;s sovereignty and security.

Security

As border fighting intensifies, Pakistani officials say Operation Ghazab lil Haq targets militant infrastructure inside Afghanistan following cross-border attacks, while foreign governments voice concern and urge both sides to avoid further military escalation.

527 Afghan Taliban combatants killed as Pakistan’s retaliatory operation enters eighth day

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday condemned recent drone attacks targeting civilians in the Azeri region of Nakhchivan and expressed solidarity with both Azerbaijan and T&uuml;rkiye as tensions continue to rise across the wider region. In a statement posted on X, the prime minister said he spoke with Azerbaijan&rsquo;s President Ilham Aliyev and strongly denounced the attacks that struck civilian areas in the country&rsquo;s exclave of Nakhchivan. Sharif said he conveyed Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;complete solidarity with the leadership and brotherly people of Azerbaijan&rdquo; during difficult time for the country. During the call, the prime minister also briefed Aliyev on Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing diplomatic outreach in response to the rapidly evolving security situation in Iran and the broader Gulf region. Both leaders discussed the need to reduce tensions and agreed on the importance of diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. &ldquo;They agreed on the importance of de-escalation and stressed the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region,&rdquo; officials said, adding that the two leaders would remain in close contact as developments unfold. In a separate message, PM Sharif also expressed deep concern over a recent attack targeting T&uuml;rkiye, reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s support for Ankara amid the growing regional uncertainty. The prime minister said Pakistan stands &ldquo;in full solidarity with our brave Turkish brothers,&rdquo; warning that such incidents risk worsening an already volatile situation. Sharif reiterated that restraint and diplomacy remain essential to preventing a broader regional confrontation. &ldquo;The prime minister called for maximum restraint and emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to uphold respect for sovereignty and maintain peace and stability in the region,&rdquo; officials said. The diplomatic outreach comes as tensions across the Middle East and surrounding regions have escalated sharply following initial strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian military and leadership targets, including facilities linked to the country&rsquo;s defense establishment. The strikes triggered retaliatory attacks by Iran across parts of the Gulf and neighboring regions, raising fears that the conflict could expand and draw in additional countries. Azerbaijan has accused Iran of carrying out drone strikes in its border region, with President Aliyev describing the attacks as &ldquo;terrorism&rdquo; after an airport and a school were reportedly hit. T&uuml;rkiye has also reported a missile-related incident linked to the widening hostilities. Turkish authorities said a ballistic missile launched from Iran traveled over Iraqi and Syrian airspace before being intercepted by NATO air defense systems. Against this backdrop, Pakistan has intensified diplomatic engagement with regional partners while calling for restraint, dialogue and renewed efforts to prevent the crisis from spiraling into a wider conflict.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with President of Azerbaijan Illham Aliyev; Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is also present (Friday, November 7, 2025). (File photo: Handout/PMO)

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned drone attacks in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan region and expressed solidarity with Azerbaijan and Türkiye, urging restraint and diplomacy as regional tensions escalate following retaliatory strikes linked to the widening Iran conflict.

Pakistan condemns attacks on Azerbaijan, Türkiye urges regional de-escalation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed provincial governments to take strict legal action against those involved in hoarding petroleum products and creating artificial shortages in the country.&nbsp;Chairing a high-level meeting on petroleum supplies in Islamabad, the prime minister was briefed by the Ministry of Petroleum on the country&rsquo;s fuel reserves in the context of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-urges-restraint-as-pm-sharif-intensifies-diplomacy-over-middle-east-war" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">evolving regional situation</a>.&nbsp;Officials informed the meeting that Pakistan currently has adequate stocks of petroleum products to meet domestic requirements.&nbsp;The prime minister, however, warned against profiteering and instructed provincial authorities to act firmly against hoarders. He said any petrol pump found involved in creating artificial shortages should be immediately sealed, its licence cancelled, and legal action initiated.&nbsp;Sharif also directed the federal petroleum minister to visit provinces and coordinate with provincial governments to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the conservation of petroleum products and their uninterrupted supply to the public. The prime minister further ordered the establishment of a digital dashboard to monitor the movement of petroleum products, enabling real-time data sharing with provinces to ensure effective oversight of fuel transportation and distribution. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Ahsan Iqbal Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Owais Leghari, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan, and State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad.&nbsp;Chief secretaries from all four provinces, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, also attended the meeting along with senior government officials.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a high-level meeting on petroleum supplies in Islamabad on Friday, March 6, 2026, directing authorities to crack down on petrol hoarding and establish real-time monitoring of fuel stocks. (Photo: Handout/PMO)

Economy

Directs federal petroleum minister to visit provinces and coordinate with provincial governments to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the conservation of petroleum products and their uninterrupted supply to the public.


Israel army says Iran using cluster munitions

Latest News

US Treasury secretary hints at lifting more Russian oil sanctions

US 'not concerned' by reports Russia aiding Iran's targeting

Israel army says Iran using cluster munitions

UN peacekeepers from Ghana wounded in south Lebanon attack

Pakistan seeks Red Sea oil route as Gulf crisis disrupts supply